Meet Talal Sultan, AU Alumnus Who Discovered the Joy of Volunteering through Travel

Meet Talal Sultan’18, Ajman University (AU) alumnus from the College of Dentistry who has helped scores of students discover the joys of volunteering through global travel. Talal has led nine international trips to Nepal, India and Kenya where students participated in community service initiatives, alongside experiencing local cultures and travelling to scenic locales.

 “As a kid, I was always involved in community service and volunteering. I learned this from my grandfather, who was a generous man. After participating in several initiatives at AU, such as pass the glass, community dental initiative, and more, I finally found the perfect blend for my love of travel and community service,” says Talal.

Talal who currently resides in Toronto Canada and owns a marketing agency specialising in medical and dental services advertising, fondly recalls how it all began for him at Ajman University. Talal and his friend Ghufran Habara teamed up to launch the community service-oriented travel initiative after discovering the unique model through an online group in Nepal.

 Talal and Ghufran reached out to the group to learn more about their work and draw inspiration from it. Their first reflex was to launch a dental services program offering free dental care to underprivileged people in Nepal. Talal and team rented a dental clinic and worked on several pop-up locations offering free dental check-ups. Students began contacting him about joining the initiative.

 As a result of the first trip with 33 dental students, Talal and his team began working on a wider scale involving renovations, teaching, women empowerment and other service areas. They tied-up with local community centers, mosques and churches in the three countries to organize these initiatives.

 “The experience was eye opening as it made me realize how fortunate we are and how much we take for granted things other people around the world don't have access to, such as clean water, education, healthcare, security, food, housing, and more,” reflects Talal.

 Over the course of the next couple of years, Talal and his team organized seven such trips for his fellow students and juniors, helping them discover the joy and personal satisfaction that comes out of being able to work for a cause.

 Even after graduating from AU in 2018, Talal and team continued their work by organizing two more trips for students, before the Covid-19 pandemic threw a spanner in their works. Talal however sees it only as a temporary setback, and is keen to resume, as soon as circumstances allow him to.

 Advising students to embark on such self-transforming journeys that can change their whole perspective, Talal says, “It is important for students at AU to continue this journey and try to step out of their comfort zone for a while. Taking part in this journey will be an unforgettable experience. The trip will allow you to travel, learn, help others, and enjoy yourself with friends and colleagues. It is time to do this now before graduation, while you still have time.”